Launching Ceremony of the Publication of Collected Works of
Professor Rehman Sobhan
Address by Honourable Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed
Dhaka, Saturday, 24 March 2007, 10 Chaitra 1413

 

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Mr. Chairman, Professor Rehman Sobhan, CPD Officials and Members of the CPD Trustee Board, Distinguished Professionals, Members of the Civil Society, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalamu Alaikum.

I consider it a privilege and honour to be invited here at this launching ceremony of the collected works of Professor Rehman Sobhan-one of the brightest stars of the Bangladeshi academic firmament. I have very fond memories of my respected ‘sir’ fifty years ago, when he taught us economics at Dhaka University all the way back in 1957, at the very start of his teaching career. I was a fresh undergraduate in that year. Present today are several others who were also in the first batch of his students that graduated in 1961. I would like to congratulate Professor Sobhan, both on the occasion of this launching ceremony as well as his 73rd birthday, which went by only a few days ago on March 12. I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to you all.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue has not only paid tribute to a great teacher and scholar by publishing the collected works of Professor Sobhan, they have also rendered us, the citizens of Bangladesh, a great service. A reading of his collected volumes reveals the man Professor Sobhan has been all these years and his Herculean dedication to research and academic pursuits throughout life. They also demonstrate his fearless outlook and commitment to social justice and equity, as well as his championing of the emancipation of the general masses.

I would like to mention a few core themes, which provide a flavour of some of his popular writings.

Professor Sobhan made immense contributions to the process of Bangladesh’s emergence through his writings, which captured contemporary concerns as well as historical moments at various junctures in our national history. All his writings on the issue of disparities between the eastern and western provinces of Pakistan, starting with his first academic paper on the subject of two economies, leading to his editorials in the Forum magazine, made invaluable contributions to providing an analytical basis of the two-economy theory and an economic justification of our aspiration for independence.

Professor Sobhan displays a remarkable empathy and strong feelings for the cause of the poor and the powerless. His relentless campaign to draw up a national reform agenda to correct injustice in the prevailing social order through structural reforms has been reflected in many of his writings.

A large segment of his writings has been devoted to the study of various dimensions of poverty as well as to the techniques and strategies for the alleviation of this social malady. He puts particular emphasis on certain methods like land distribution, empowerment of the poor by increasing their control over productive assets, and rectification of structural injustices.

His growing concern for crisis-infested democracy, mal-governance and corruption in
Bangladesh and South Asia find expression in a number of his writings. Professor Sobhan has also provided valuable insights into how corruption can he handled and dealt with. A strong critic of the donor-driven rivatization policy, he cautions against the dangers of a politically motivated rivatization agenda in developing countries like Bangladesh.

A major concern highlighted by Professor Sobhan has been the issue of rising external dependence. He has remained vocal against this dependence and the resultant dominance of aid ¬donors over the critical policy agenda of the country. Professor Sobhan repeatedly challenges market fundamentalism and his writings are replete with the quest for an alternative paradigm,

Many of his” writings also highlight the important role that civil society can play in bringing about substantial transformations of society. This has been reflected, for example, in the countrywide dialogues he has led, aimed at reforming the electoral and political process in the country.

But among all his many achievements, I consider his role as a teacher as having had the most lasting impact on us as well as on our country. He has taught generations of outstanding economists and inspired others who followed them. For people like us, he will forever remain a great teacher, philosopher and friend.

Professor Sobhan’s scholarly writings, based on his insightful investigations and courageous inquisitiveness, can serve as a treasure-trove of knowledge for the people of Bangladesh. I am sure that he will continue to guide us through his words of wisdom in the coming days, in our quest to further strengthen the base of democracy and good governance in the country.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate CPD once again for their laudable initiative and wish my respected teacher, Professor Rehman Sobhan, long life, peace and happiness.

Allah Hafez.

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